The 2024 PFA Players’ Player of the Year award nominees have been announced, and there’s a notable absentee from the six-man shortlist. Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard has made the cut, but his teammate Declan Rice has been overlooked.
Cole Palmer of Chelsea, Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, and three Manchester City stars – Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, and Rodri – complete the list of nominees. The winner will be chosen by professional footballers in England.
Rice had an impressive season, playing in all 38 of Arsenal’s Premier League matches and scoring seven goals, while also providing eight assists. He finished second in the FWA Footballer of the Year award, voted for by journalists.
Manchester City stars Erling Haaland (left) and Phil Foden (right) have both been nominated for the 2024 PFA Players’ Player of the Year award
Martin Odegaard (left) is on the shortlist but Arsenal team-mate Declan Rice (right) is not
Foden is considered a frontrunner for the award, having won the FWA Footballer of the Year award. The winner of the 2024 PFA Players’ Player of the Year award will be announced on August 20.
Three of the past four winners of the award have been Manchester City players. Haaland won the award in the 2022-23 season after scoring a record-breaking 36 Premier League goals.
Kevin De Bruyne had earlier won the award in both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, but Liverpool’s Mo Salah topped the vote at the end of the 2021-22 season.
Haaland scored 27 Premier League goals last season to win the Golden Boot for the second year running. Palmer came second on the list of top scorers with 22 goals, ahead of Newcastle’s Alexander Isak with 21. Watkins, Foden, and Dominic Solanke netted 19 each.
Arsenal finished second in the Premier League last season – two points behind Man City
In other news, three Manchester City players have been nominated for the Women’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year award. Yui Hasegawa, Lauren Hemp, and Khadija Shaw join Chelsea trio Lauren James, Niamh Charles, and Erin Cuthbert on the six-woman shortlist.
Chelsea and City finished level on points in last season’s WSL, with the London club winning the title on goal difference after thrashing Man United 6-0 on the final day.